Zoom--why does it stop so short of the primitive here?
I guess you zoom with your mouse wheel?

This behavior is because the zoom you're using is based on a focus point, which is set on the first object. There are two ways to get around:


set your focus point to your other object with Numpad .
use a "dolly zoom", a zoom which moves your view and its focus point as the same time, with CtrlShiftMiddle mouse button drag